Now that the Lionel 2015 Signature Catalog has been unveiled...

I would love to see production move back to the US, but I think the bean-counter mentality will still look overseas for a less-expensive alternative.  Despite the tail-wagging-the-dog situation most importers are finding themselves in nowadays, I guess it's still cheaper to ship products half way around the globe and fly company reps overseas to monitor production, than to make a long-term committment to US workers and production facilities Stateside again.  

I seem to recall Scott Mann of Sunset Models indicating the Phillipines is now on the radar screen as a possibilitiy.  He might even be using them already.  It's my understanding that the recently delivered GM ToT was still made in China, so I'm not sure which product will be the first to ship out from the Phillipines.  Anyone know which country is producing his upcoming stuff like the high-level superliners and the light-weight passenger car finish sets?  

Ironic that 3rd Rail / GGD isn't making as big an issue of aluminum extrusion as Lionel currently is.  Can't help but wonder if the aluminum extrusion situation reported by Lionel is real or just a party line to help shift their production to less expensive ABS tooling.

David

Just finished looking through the Lionel Signature Catalog.  There are some very nice items offered!  Unfortunately everything in the catalog is priced higher than what I can justify spending on a hobby simply for my own entertainment.  (Sorry Lionel).  But, on a more positive (and practical) note, I'm quite content to run & enjoy what I already own.  

The Signature catalog tells me Lionel repects its cutomers. Rather than retreating in its quality the publication (an the smaller specialty catalogs as well) are very nicely done. The die-cut cover is what tells me that ownership is serious about the future of the hobby.

6-82660
Norfolk & Western Scale 60' Boxcar #600949

Atlas has released and is producing ACF 60' Auto Parts Box Cars in the same number series and paint scheme as what somebody is putting on the Pullman-Standard 60' Boxcar.

Norfolk and Western acquired Pullman-Standard double-door 60' Auto Parts Boxcars in the 1970's that somebody at Lionel could have put in the catalog to match the recent Norfolk and Western SD40-2 diesel-electric locomotives in the 1970's NW black & white scheme.

Andrew

Falcon Service

You can produce and edit complicated and exciting videos of Lionel locos and cars then post them on-line for everyone's entertainment.

You can build a large modular layout and take it in a trailer to a public event for other people's entertainment.

Andrew